Adulting 101: 5 Ways to Manage Your Money Like an Adult

Being in your 20s is a wild ride. For one, you’re too old to still be dependent on your parents, but also too young to face the pressures and figure everything out. But the pressures of adulting demand that you figure it all out on your own. Then you reach your late 20s, and you’re expected to have mastered it all.

But what is all this adulting about anyway?

Well for one, it’s building that discipline needed to focus on the most important tasks at hand. It’s realizing that, you only really need to do things one at a time. But of course, the pressures and surge of hormones in our youth lead us to succumb to all kinds of distractions and it all gets tangled up into the blackhole of existential crisis.

So, in line with being focused and disregarding all the nonsense, I present to you the way you can manage your budget like an adult. If you’re still in your early 20s, well, awesome. Enjoy all the fun, confusion, and take all the lessons you can get. But, as tita as this may sound, it’s best that you learn all these values now, so you can get ahead of everyone in ‘adulting’. You’ll surely thank yourself later.

Consolidate All Your Monthly Bills

How much are you really paying every month? This should be your top priority, and not your FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) — on parties, scenes, and events. There’s no better feeling than the peace of mind that comes with being able to pay your bills on time. And with this practice comes the fulfilment of being financially independent, too.

If you’re still short on your monthly income and have a credit card, you’re lucky to have something to help you out on those Petsa de Peligro days. But learn to use your credit card wisely so you don’t get caught up in debt. Another solution for this is to look for side job opportunities on the internet, so you get to earn more money. Maybe even in US dollars, too, as most freelance contractors from the likes of Upwork are from the USA.

Setting Both Long and Short-Term Savings Goal

You’ll often hear this at job interviews. What are your goals five, ten years from now? And the right answer should be to see yourself climbing the corporate ladder in that company, to let them know you’re not going anywhere. That thought can change, sure, but the question is still important. What is all this hard work for without a goal, right?

Entry-level salaried employees should never set their goals merely based in their income.

Set bigger, realistic goals and a specific timeline. Do you want to own a house before you’re 30? That’s possible. Set bigger goals and your paycheck will follow. This is because you’ll program your mind to work double to get to that goal.

Start Investing

Entrepreneurs and financial advisers will have you know, letting loads of money sit idly in your bank would be a waste. If you have enough money saved up in the bank, find the right investment venture for you.

Invest in something you’re interested in, e.g. Stock Trading, or maybe a business you can start, with partners or by yourself. You can even opt for a personal loan to get that jumpstart if you already have a solid business plan.

Find ways to earn extra income

Let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be cool if you just kept living on a tight budget. If you’re the spaghetti head type who can’t be bothered to set a budget, then grow your money instead. If you have a skill you can monetize — web design, graphic design, writing, or being a consultant in your field of expertise, you get it — make money out of it.

Your 20s is about laying a solid foundation for your future. There will be a lot of distractions. But you wouldn’t want to get too caught up in those that you forget about your own well-being and future.

Disclosure

The Free Financial Advisor is not an investment advisor and the comments posted herein are opinions of the authors. While they have been professionals at one time, since AverageJoe, Emilie and others are not currently a registered investment advisors or brokers, their opinions should be considered those of amateurs.